Yochanan 20

1 0 Now on the Yom Rishon, Miryam of Magdala comes early, while it was still dark, to the kever (tomb) and sees the stone having been taken away from the kever.

2 Miryam of Magdala runs therefore and comes to Shimon Kefa and to the talmid ha’ahuv and says to them, They have taken Adoneinu from the kever (tomb) and we do not have da’as where they placed him.

3 Therefore, Shimon Kefa went forth and the other talmid, and they were coming to the kever (tomb),

4 And were running, the two together and the other talmid ran ahead faster than Kefa, and came first to the kever,

5 And having stooped down, the other talmid [talmid ha’ahuv] sees the tachrichin linen clothes lying there. However, he did not enter the kever.

6 Then comes also Shimon Kefa following him and Shimon Kefa entered into the kever (tomb), and sees the tachrichin linen clothes lying there.

7 And also the mitznefet (head wrapping), which had been upon the rosh of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, the mitznefet not lying with the tachrichin, but apart, having been folded up in one place.

8 Then, therefore, entered also the other talmid, the one having come first to the kever (tomb), and he saw and had emunah (faith).

9 For they did not yet have da’as of the Kitvei Hakodesh that it is necessary for Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach to have his Techiyas HaMoshiach. [TEHILLIM 16:9; YESHAYAH 53:10]

10 Then the talmidim went away again to their own homes.

11 Now Miryam had stood at the kever (tomb) outside weeping. Then, as she was weeping, she bent down into the kever (tomb)

12 And sees two malachim (angels) in white, sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the Guf of Yehoshua had previously been lying.

13 And those ones say to her, Isha, why do you weep? She says to them, They took Adoni, and I don’t have da’as of where they placed him.

14 When she had said these things, she turned back around, and she sees Yehoshua standing there, and she did not have da’as that it was Yehoshua.

15 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to her, Isha, why do you weep? Whom do you seek? Miryam, supposing that he was the shomer hagahn (the keeper of the garden), says to him, Adon, if you carried him away, tell me where you placed him, and I’ll take him.

16 He says to her, Miryam. She turns and she says to him in Ivrit, Rabboni. (This means mori [my teacher].)

17 He says to her, Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet made the aliyah ascent to HaAv; but go to my Achim and tell them, I make the aliyah ascent to Avi and to Avichem, to Elohai and Eloheichem. [TEHILLIM 22:23]

18 Miryam from Magdala comes announcing to the talmidim, I have seen HaAdon [MALACHI 3:1]. And she told them that He had said to her these things.

19 On that Yom Rishon, when it was erev, and the delatot (doors) having been shut where the talmidim were, because of fear of those of Yehudah, then came Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and stood in the midst and says to them, Shalom Aleichem!

20 And having said this, He showed his hands and his side to them. Therefore, the talmidim were filled with simcha at having seen HaAdon (MALACHI 3:1).

21 Therefore He said to them again, Shalom Aleichem! As HaAv has sent Me, so also I send you. [BERESHIS 2:7; YECHEZKEL 37:9]

22 And having said this, Moshiach breathed on them and says to them, Receive the Ruach Hakodesh.

23 If you grant selicha to the averos of any, they have selicha; if there be any whose averos you retain, they are retained. [Mt 16:19; 18:18; Ac 8:17-24]

24 But T’oma, one of the Sheneym Asar, the one being called Didymus, was not with them when He came.

25 Therefore the other talmidim were saying to him, Ra’i’nu es Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu (We have seen Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu!) But T’oma said to them, Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails and I put my finger into the place of the nails and also put my hand into his side, I will never have emunah (faith).

26 And after shmonah yamim (eight days) again the talmidim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach were inside, and T’oma with them. Although the delatot were shut, He comes and stood in the midst and said, Shalom Aleichem.

27 Then He says to T’oma, Bring your finger here and see My hands, and bring your hand and put it into My side, and do not be without emunah but be a ma’amin (Messianic believer).

28 In reply, T’oma said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni and Elohai! [TEHILLIM 35:23]

29 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, Because you have seen Me, you have emunah (faith)? Ashrey (Happy) are the ones not having seen and having emunah.

30 Therefore, many other otot (miraculous signs) Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach also did before the talmidim, which have not been written in this sefer.

31 But these things have been written that you might have emunah that Yehoshua is the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, the Ben HaElohim, and that, believing with emunah, you may have Chayyim (Life) b’Shem of Him.

Yochanan 20 Commentary

Chapter 20

The sepulchre found to be empty. (1-10) Christ appears to Mary. (11-18) He appears to the disciples. (19-25) The unbelief of Thomas. (26-29) Conclusion. (30,31)

Verses 1-10 If Christ gave his life a ransom, and had not taken it again, it would not have appeared that his giving it was accepted as satisfaction. It was a great trial to Mary, that the body was gone. Weak believers often make that the matter of complaint, which is really just ground of hope, and matter of joy. It is well when those more honoured than others with the privileges of disciples, are more active than others in the duty of disciples; more willing to take pains, and run hazards, in a good work. We must do our best, and neither envy those who can do better, nor despise those who do as well as they can, though they come behind. The disciple whom Jesus loved in a special manner, and who therefore in a special manner loved Jesus, was foremost. The love of Christ will make us to abound in every duty more than any thing else. He that was behind was Peter, who had denied Christ. A sense of guilt hinders us in the service of God. As yet the disciples knew not the Scripture; they Christ must rise again from the dead.

Verses 11-18 We are likely to seek and find, when we seek with affection, and seek in tears. But many believers complain of the clouds and darkness they are under, which are methods of grace for humbling their souls, mortifying their sins, and endearing Christ to them. A sight of angels and their smiles, will not suffice, without a sight of Jesus, and God's smiles in him. None know, but those who have tasted it, the sorrows of a deserted soul, which has had comfortable evidences of the love of God in Christ, and hopes of heaven, but has now lost them, and walks in darkness; such a wounded spirit who can bear? Christ, in manifesting himself to those that seek him, often outdoes their expectations. See how Mary's heart was in earnest to find Jesus. Christ's way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word applied to their souls, speaking to them in particular. It might be read, Is it my Master? See with what pleasure those who love Jesus speak of his authority over them. He forbids her to expect that his bodily presence look further, than the present state of things. Observe the relation to God, from union with Christ. We, partaking of a Divine nature, Christ's Father is our Father; and he, partaking of the human nature, our God is his God. Christ's ascension into heaven, there to plead for us, is likewise an unspeakable comfort. Let them not think this earth is to be their home and rest; their eye and aim, and earnest desires, must be upon another world, and this ever upon their hearts, I ascend, therefore I must seek the things which are above. And let those who know the word of Christ, endeavour that others should get good from their knowledge.

Verses 19-25 This was the first day of the week, and this day is afterwards often mentioned by the sacred writers; for it was evidently set apart as the Christian sabbath, in remembrance of Christ's resurrection. The disciples had shut the doors for fear of the Jews; and when they had no such expectation, Jesus himself came and stood in the midst of them, having miraculously, though silently, opened the doors. It is a comfort to Christ's disciples, when their assemblies can only be held in private, that no doors can shut out Christ's presence. When He manifests his love to believers by the comforts of his Spirit, he assures them that because he lives, they shall live also. A sight of Christ will gladden the heart of a disciple at any time; and the more we see of Jesus, the more we shall rejoice. He said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost, thus showing that their spiritual life, as well as all their ability for their work, would be derived from him, and depended upon him. Every word of Christ which is received in the heart by faith, comes accompanied by this Divine breathing; and without this there is neither light nor life. Nothing is seen, known, discerned, or felt of God, but through this. After this, Christ directed the apostles to declare the only method by which sin would be forgiven. This power did not exist at all in the apostles as a power to give judgment, but only as a power to declare the character of those whom God would accept or reject in the day of judgment. They have clearly laid down the marks whereby a child of God may be discerned and be distinguished from a false professor; and according to what they have declared shall every case be decided in the day of judgment. When we assemble in Christ's name, especially on his holy day, he will meet with us, and speak peace to us. The disciples of Christ should endeavour to build up one another in their most holy faith, both by repeating what they have heard to those that were absent, and by making known what they have experienced. Thomas limited the Holy One of Israel, when he would be convinced by his own method or not at all. He might justly have been left in his unbelief, after rejecting such abundant proofs. The fears and sorrows of the disciples are often lengthened, to punish their negligence.

Verses 26-29 That one day in seven should be religiously observed, was an appointment from the beginning. And that, in the kingdom of the Messiah, the first day of the week should be that solemn day, was pointed out, in that Christ on that day once and again met his disciples in a religious assembly. The religious observance of that day has come down to us through every age of the church. There is not an unbelieving word in our tongues, nor thought in our minds, but it is known to the Lord Jesus; and he was pleased to accommodate himself even to Thomas, rather than leave him in his unbelief. We ought thus to bear with the weak, ( romans 15:1 romans 15:2 ) . This warning is given to all. If we are faithless, we are Christless and graceless, hopeless and joyless. Thomas was ashamed of his unbelief, and cried out, My Lord and my God. He spoke with affection, as one that took hold of Christ with all his might; "My Lord and my God." Sound and sincere believers, though slow and weak, shall be graciously accepted of the Lord Jesus. It is the duty of those who read and hear the gospel, to believe, to embrace the doctrine of Christ, and that ( 1 John. 5:11 )

Verses 30-31 There were other signs and proofs of our Lord's resurrection, but these were committed to writing, that all might believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Saviour of sinners, and the Son of God; that, by this faith, they might obtain eternal life, by his mercy, truth, and power. May we believe that Jesus is the Christ, and believing may we have life through his name.